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Three years ago, I interviewed Michael Phillips about his lifework of reintroducing George MacDonald's writings to the world. Naturally, thinking and writing on the topic made me homesick for the familiar stories, and so I began to reread.
While curled up in my Jerusalem home, vicariously roaming the hills of Scotland, I noticed that everyone seemed to be eating oatcakes.
Feeling a little jealous and a little hungry, back I went to my online ... Read More about George MacDonald and the Quest for Scottish Oatcakes

'Tis the season for twinkle lights, Christmas carols, and menu items that only make an appearance around the holidays. There's something about food that's extra special. It has a way of making itself the heart of favorite traditions. And traditions are the thing that helps to keep growing families close through time, change and miles. For many of us, a single bite of a holiday treat can bring back a flood of a thousand happy memories. ... Read More about A Taste of Holiday Cheer

Between Google and Pinterest, it's easy as pie (though pie isn't that easy!) to find every variation of any recipe. Copy cat recipes, gluten free, or vegan versions. The ideas are literally "googolplex" in number. But there's nothing like the inspiration to be found in taking a stack of cookbooks off the shelf and browsing through them to find a new favorite or an idea that was escaping you.Betty Crocker's Cookbook and more...
reviewed by ... Read More about Peeking into Our Favorite Cookbooks

I’m a night owl who also somehow likes the morning vibe. As long as it’s not too early, I relish the relative quietness of the day’s beginning. I like the pottering around feeling of getting ready for work. I enjoy the morning light filtering through half-open blinds. I like the routine of getting my zombified self to look half human. And I love love love breakfast foods.I love breakfast foods to the level of Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson, ... Read More about For the love of breakfast.

There is never enough time on weekday mornings.I sometimes have dreams of starting the day with a good, hearty breakfasts eaten together as a family seven days a week and enjoying a leisurely cup of tea every morning over an inspirational read while I sit in my chair on the porch and watch the sunrise. But my weekday mornings aren't very leisurely, and we don't get to eat breakfast together until the weekend.So ... Read More about Waffles on the Weekend

We all heard the story from the time we were little. How Mama and Papa got married and she would cook her one-pot wonders. Tater tot casserole was just the beginning--she had a dozen different ways of getting her babies to eat their vegetables. Eventually the day came when Papa sat down at the table, looked at the pot of food, and very hesitantly said, "Hon, do you think maybe next time you make this meal you could put the meat in one pan, the ... Read More about An Ode to Food: Scaling Decades and Continents

Mincepies are unsophisticated, homely and above all, tasty mouthfuls of comfort and joy.I love their simplicity and the surprise and delight of biting through dusty, dry pastry into sweet, spicy fruit. Traditional Christmas fare in England, I think they're tasty at any time, but there's something about their appearance and aroma that makes me want to take a walk through the frozen countryside, brown and barren under a blue sky and wintry ... Read More about because mincepies and memories go togther

The joy begins as evening draws near.My family drives up to my parents’ place about an hour before dusk. My children run into the house, yelling for “Nanny and Papa”. I’m greeted at the door by my siblings.My twelve-year-old brother always checks to see if he’s taller than me yet. It wouldn’t be a huge achievement, except for the fact that my whole family is Shetland-sized. My ten-year-old sister always grabs my hand and starts explaining ... Read More about Our Family Sabbath Tradition

When I think about the holidays, one of the first things that come to mind are traditions. For me, traditions are the things that make holidays special. They were the things I looked forward to the most, and the things that made some of my best holiday memories.For me, some of my favorite holiday traditions were dressing up for Thanksgiving Day and going to hear Handel's Messiah each December. For Scott, a big, special meal is what set the ... Read More about Cranberry Relish & Holiday Greetings

When I was younger, traditions were the most sacred part of any holiday. Mess with one of the things we did every year and the whole holiday felt off kilter. If the evening didn't culminate with full bellies and jammies in front of Gramma's roaring fireplace, it just wasn't Thanksgiving. If we didn't drive around in the car with blankets and mugs of hot chocolate to look at Christmas lights in the neighborhood, it just wasn't Christmas. If the ... Read More about Holidays in Transition

Here are some simple ideas for making the ceremony of afternoon tea a special occasion.Homemade scones, or ones from the bakery, are delicious served with fresh strawberry jam and a dollop or two of this decadent cream.
Mock Devonshire Cream:
Whip ½ cup heavy cream with 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar till stiff peaks form. Then gently fold in ½ cup sour cream. Serve generously with warm scones or tea biscuits.
Tea Sandwiches
Tea ... Read More about Tea Time Sweets and Savories

It's deliciously cloudy out--and suitably chilly--and I'm relishing to the prospect of a day in my kitchen full of happy bustle and preparation for Thanksgiving. We'll be going to my parents' tomorrow, and we're looking forward to a day on the farm with Philip's family on Friday. But today is 'at home' day and I have a lovely list of rituals to set my hands to, not to mention the delight of a precious friend on her way over for tea. :)There's ... Read More about Thanksgiving Eve